What would you recommend?

[spitfire boy]

I am thinking of purchasing a new graphics card for my system - my computer is a Dell Dimension 3100C, and it has an integrated card, so you can see why I might want to update it

What I need from the card;
I need it to be in the

[jimcooper1]

[quote]I am thinking of purchasing a new graphics card for my system - my computer is a Dell Dimension 3100C, and it has an integrated card, so you can see why I might want to update it

What I need from the card;
I need it to be in the

[spitfire boy]

Height - roughly 39cm
Width - 11.5cm
Depth - roughly 34cm

Also, what does x1 as opposed to x16 mean?

P.S. When you refer to 'video cards' are you referring to what I called a graphics card - or are video cards and graphics cards different things?

[jimcooper1]

Height - roughly 39cm
Width - 11.5cm
Depth - roughly 34cm

Also, what does x1 as opposed to x16 mean?

P.S. When you refer to 'video cards' are you referring to what I called a graphics card - or are video cards and graphics cards different things?

Video Card = Graphic Card

As I suspected that case is too narrow to accept a standard Graphics card...the only way you will be able to upgrade is by going back to DELL...I'm not even sure they will be able to offer you a games quality graphics card for that chassis.

Regards

Jim

[spitfire boy]

Height - roughly 39cm
Width - 11.5cm
Depth - roughly 34cm

Also, what does x1 as opposed to x16 mean?

P.S. When you refer to 'video cards' are you referring to what I called a graphics card - or are video cards and graphics cards different things?

Video Card = Graphic Card

As I suspected that case is too narrow to accept a standard Graphics card...the only way you will be able to upgrade is by going back to DELL...I'm not even sure they will be able to offer you a games quality graphics card for that chassis.

Regards

Jim

Is it possible to mount a graphics card externally? (I'm desperate now!)

P.S. I just discovered my PC has 2 PCI ports. Are these something entirely different, or might they help?

[jimcooper1]

You can get PCI Graphics cards but ALMOST all graphics cards are 5" high (including backplate). I doubt very much whether you will be able to purchase a card that will fit.  And I've never heard of an external graphics card either!!!

I'm sorry but that PC was never intended to be a 'Gamer'  It's selling point is it's extremely small footprint and is typically sold as an 'office' PC where desk space is the priority. It doesn't have an AGP slot or PCIe x16 slot so a Gaming card is not an option even if the Motherboard was in a larger case

Regards

Jim